Commuter Assistants

What's a Commuter Assistant?

Commuter Assistants (or CAs) are experienced upper-class commuter students who are linked with incoming first year commuter students and act as personal guides for their entire first year at NYU. CAs are divided by school so they are familiar with information that is unique to the specific schools. Throughout the semester CAs will host programs and send weekly emails providing students with helpful updates, suggestions for things to do, and information on available resources.

When will I meet my Commuter Assistant?

First-year students will meet their Commuter Assistant at the Commuter Overnight Retreat or at the mandatory Commuter Student Welcome during Welcome Week

If you have questions before you hear from your CA, contact commuters@nyu.edu

Aagna Patel

Major: Economics, Pre-Med
School: College of Arts and Science
Year: Junior
Commute: Queens

Ask me about: NYC metro system, restaurants, volunteering and service opportunities, places to explore/things to do in New York City, and clubs at NYU

What advice would you share with new transfer or commuter students? Be open-minded and proactive! The best way to make the most out of you college experience is to take advantage of the endless opportunities that are provided to you by NYU and it's campus-NYC. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and experience new things. Go to campus events, join clubs, explore the city, and get involved in the NYU community. It's a great way to meet new people and make your college experience unique and memorable.

Jonathan Shawn Philip

Major: Music Technology, Steinhardt

Year: Sophomore

Commute: Washington Heights, NY

Ask me about: Clubs, Inter-borough Commuting, Living with Relatives, Life as an International Student, Being a Caribbean National at NYU

What advice would you share with new commuter students? I encourage new students to try their best to follow, attend and engage in as many activities organized by the CAs and the rest of NYU. Community building is a major part of College life and makes the whole experience so much more worth while. Exposing yourself to various things that you've never tried before can help you uncover talents you never had and introduce you to activities that you never knew you'd love. You also get to meet new people from different backgrounds and learn a little more about them, the world and in turn, yourselves.

Ellie Ly

School:Tandon School of Engineering
Major: Integrated Digital Media
Year: Junior
Commute: Coney Island, Brooklyn

Ask me about: Comm*Unity, The MTA system, Brooklyn Campus and the programs offered at the school of Engineering, Clubs and Organizations, Service/volunteering, Greek Life, why being a commuter isn't a bad thing!

What advice would you share with new commuter students? Take advantage of the opportunities offered here! "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take" -Michael Scott. NYU has so many things to offer from courses to clubs and organizations, to special programs to all the free food events! It may be a bummer that you have to be a commuter instead of a dormer but it doesn't have to be! Be proactive and take advantage of the things NYU has to offer. Don't just go home after classes, that's the last thing you should do! I promise you that if you put yourself out there integrate yourself into the NYU community you'll have a great time here!

Albert/Minh Do

Major: Drama

School: Tisch School of the Arts

Year: Sophomore

Commute: Brooklyn, NY

Ask me about: The MTA system, NYU theatre productions, Broadway, being an international student, programs at Tisch School of the Arts, Clubs and Organizations, cheap and good food places around NYU campus, commuting!

What advice would you share with new commuter students? Enjoy yourself! You made it! Try as many things as possible, join a club, go to the gym, explore the city, meet new people, give yourself an opportunity to grow! You are in one of the most complex, beautiful and tough cities in the world, learn to navigate by throwing yourself out there! You're gonna have a great time.

Eugene Park

Major: Undecided, College of Arts and Science

Year: Junior

Commute: Bronx, NY

Ask me about: The 6 train, a cappella, Manhattan campus, and anything else!

What advice would you share with new commuter students? Put your own needs first. If you're sacrificing your own personal wellbeing for something, chances are it's not worth it.

Valerie Szuster

Major: French Secondary Education

Year: Steinhardt

Commute: Great Neck, Long Island.

Ask me about:

Teaching, Foreign languages, French community, Spanish society, The LIRR system, Unique places on Washington Square Campus, Steinhardt or their annual school meet ups, clubs and sports, How many languages I can say commuter?

What advice would you share with new commuter students?

Promise me you'll embrace being a commuter from the very first day you step on to campus! Being a commuter doesn't make you any different from a dormer so find your home at NYU! Find the gold at the end of the rainbow by trying new clubs, classes and organizations. Try something new like stepping out of you're comfort zone to reach the pot of gold like: play quidditch, dance some salsa or speak in German! Don't limit yourself and embrace the purple flags that will guide you to graduation. Being a commuter gives you the strength and determination to be able to be involved and bring a piece of home to everybody. Smile. Embrace. Commute.

Christopher Garcia

Major: Mechanical Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering

Year: Junior

Commute: Queens, NY

Ask me about:

The Tandon Life, Resources, activities, and organizations offered at Tandon, Comm*Unity, the MechE Life, Comm*Unity, Student Life involvement, and redefining the commuter experience at NYU!

What advice would you share with new commuter students?

This is your college experience! Don’t let being a commuter hold you back from having a normal college experience, because only you can define normal for yourself! Be daring, push past your boundaries, and focus on being the best version of yourself that you can be. As a commuter and as an NYU student, take advantage of all the resources at your disposal and explore your campus. Awesome events, endless numbers of clubs and organizations for all sorts of interests, and FREE FOOD are just the start of your adventure. And most importantly, never be afraid to express yourself!

Yury Orlov

Major: Sports Management, School of Professional Studies

Year: Sophomore

Commute: Manhattan, NY

Ask me about: Sports, MTA, Places to study, Cheap but good places to eat, Clubs, Intramurals, SPS.

What advice would you share with new commuter students? Do not be afraid to try out new things. If you were not interested in something in high school, that does not necessarily mean you will not enjoy it in college. It is important to always have one to two people with whom you may have similar classes in case you are absent and looking to catch up. Do not be afraid to talk to professors, they are there to help you succeed, not fail you. Always leave time for yourself so that you are in good health, doing something while your body is in need of rest is not an effective way of going about things. Stay in touch with your parents, this may be as hard a time for them as it is for you, depending on if you are their first child to go off to college.

Eduardo Vera Henriquez

Major: Mechanical Engineering, Tandon

Year: Sophomore

Commute: Flushing, Queens

Ask me about: Cheap food and Napping spots

What advice would you share with new commuter students? Step out of your comfort zone early into the year. Trust me
Unlimited MetroCards are worth it. Again, trust me.
Get the McDonald's app. You will only have so much money for food so make it as cheap as possible

Fahima Uddin

School: College oof Arts and Science

Major: Politics
Year: Senior
Commute: Queens

Ask me about: Study Abroad, Work Study Jobs, Premed, Campus Involvement, Commuting from Queens.

What advice would you share with new commuter students?
I would suggest trying different classes before declaring major and if possible study abroad. Maintain relation with advisor and make sure you are on path to completing graduation requirements. PLEASE GO TO COR its FUN!!

Victoria Barbalat

Major: Finance
College/School: Stern
Year: Sophomore
Commute: Brooklyn, NY

Ask me about: Tv shows; Spots to take insta pics; Free food on campus

What advice would you share with new commuter students? Have fun! Say hi to people in your classes, your cohort, the Commuter Den. Everybody is trying to make friends, especially in the beginning of the year. Do not be afraid to reach out first.
-Make sure you find a nice balance between studying and socializing. I thought college was easy because it's not that much work, but you gotta put work in by yourself, even if it isn't mandatory.
-Carry a water bottle around! I was dangerously dehydrated first semester because a water bottle didn't fit into my purse.

Mariyamo

Major: Civil Engineering, Tandon School of Engineering
Year: Sophomore
Commute: Bronx, NY

Ask me about: Comm*Unity, community service, commuter lifestyle, knitting, the opportunities Engineering students have at Tandon, being a African muslim women in the harsh United States climate.

What advice would you share with new commuter students? Be the person you always wanted to be. College is a chance to change aspects of yourself for the better. The procrastination, time management, and lack of sleep are all too real. So make time for yourself but, prioritize your success. Be confident, social, and take chances because they are endless amount of opportunities here at an NYU and do not skip out on any. So apply for everything, and live with no regrets.

Anna Chessky

School: College of Global Public Health/College of Arts and Sciences
Major: Global Public Health/Chemistry
Year: Senior
Commute: Brooklyn

Ask me about: Broadway shoes, great brunch places around campus, and how to stay motivated throughout the school year, especially when things get tough.

What advice would you share with new commuter students? My biggest advice is to take advantage of everything and don't be afraid. I know this sounds generic and cliche, but you really don't want to be a senior and regret that you didn't do this or that. New York University is located at the heart of NYC for a reason. There are so many opportunities in this city and university. If something is stopping you, go speak with a friend and advisor to overcome it. Study abroad, find an internship, quit and then find another. Get involved with research, join a club, attend a comedy show in the evening and try that bougie coffee from La Colombe, even if the wait is a little while. You don't have to do everything at once, because it will get overwhelming. Make a list, and every semester check something off of it. This is something, I wish I would have done. You won't regret it. Make every year count because time will go by quickly! Also, being a student at a large university, means it is important to start getting comfortable being independent and your own advocator. Of course, there are people here to help you (teachers, advisors, counselors), but its your job to ask for help and don't be afraid to do so. Also don't let anyone stop you from applying to a competitive internship, etc ... everyone's journey is different and if you don't try, you will never know what the outcome could have been!

Steven Almanzar

School: Tandon